The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-11-11
NORMAL NOTES.


Last Friday evening the Literary So
ciety elected the following officers
President, Mr.. William Hoeger; Vice
President, Mr.. Geo. j. keenan,; Score
tary, Miss McDonough; Treasurer, Miss
! Alma Hartman; Critic, Mr.. Perrin;
| Marshals, Messrs. Soaring and Harrison.
A committee was appointed by the
chair to draft resolutions in regard to
the death of John G. Geddes, graduate
of the Normal and one of the founders
of this society.
The principal feature of the evenings
program was short play in three acts.
This was exceedingly well rendered.
The persons who performed it had all
learned their parts perfectly, 80 that
everything passed off smoothly and
nicely without break in dialogue. The
speaking was natural and the impersona-
ton simply good. Especially does Mr..
Durham deserve high praise as a skill
ful impersonator. The spirited dialogue
and exciting acting held the closest at
tention of the audience during the whole
time given to the play. If you would
enjoy a good and profitable entertain
ment, come to the Normal Literary So
cietv.
The mornings literary exercise was
Massacre" 1t was, in substance, a plea
for the poor Indians; they haye been
dealt unfairly with by the whites and
passed judgment on without taking our
misuse of them under consideration.
The Red Men are not to blame for many
a bloodshed charged upon them; but the
whites themselves. Let this fact not be
overlooked. We believe in doing justice |
to every human being, regardless of
race and color. The speaker spoke |
and with feeling on this sub
ject.
Miss Ray is an excellent reader. Her
voice is well modulated and musical. |
Her delivery is easy and graceful. To |
be able TO read well is great accomp- |
lishment, and we think that elocution |
should hold very high rank as a study |
Time and good instruction should not be |
spared in making good speakers and
readers. As it now is Evolutionary |
is sadly sighted in our schools. |
In Minnesota and several other states
careful training in speaking plainly is
probably of much greater importance
than in many other states, simply be-
cause 4 large percentage of our students
are foreigners learning or beginning to
learn the English language. The power
Of expression is what they want first of
al good things.
1t is highly to be wished that some of
he essays read before the school might
De printed, so that the people i'm gener-
ii could judge for themselves concern
ny the character and merit of these
We feel perfectly conf
lent that if these compositions-the
of much care and hard work
we're to appear from time to time in
,ood newspaper, they would not merely
,e read with profit and interest by those
concerned, but likewise by
he entire reading public. Not enough
With this, We think it, moreover, a capt.
4 plan of advertising our rapidly devel-
ping educational center in this part of :
he state. These literary productions
re the outgrowth of original investiga.
ion. They are on various topics and
re treated with an openness character
site of youth. Hence, they reveal the
thoughts; they display the training; and
hey indicate the mental strength of the
7riters. Here lies the one great reason
Thy they should be given to the public;
here can hardly be ANYTHING more in s
eresting than to watch the intellectual
evelopment of the young men and
Dung women of our country. The
roducts of their mind afford the best
violence from which to draw correct
exclusions regarding their abilities and
loral character. g.,